414 I Assembly 



CULTURE OF HOPS. 



Mr. Ferguson, of Fergusonville, New- York: 



The best soil, probably, for hops is a gravelly loam, although 

 any soil that will produce good corn will yield hops. The more 

 level the land the better, as it will be less liable to wash in heavy 

 rains. 



The ground should be well manured with barn yard manure, 

 plowed in, and well mixed. 



The ground should be subsoiled, in order to allow the hop 

 roots, which run deep, to take firm hold as soon as possible. 



When the ground is put in proper order, plant with corn, the 

 hills tliree feet apart each way. At the same time, or as soon as the 

 corn is up, plant your hop roots at every other hill,of every other 

 row, so that the hop hills will be six feet apart each way — the 

 rows one way running north and south, to admit the sun's rays 

 between the rows at the middle of the day. 



The roots for planting are taken from old hop yards, by passing 

 a hook similar to a potato hook around the hill, taking up those 

 roots nearest the surface called runners; thus at the same time 

 clearing the hill of unnecessary roots, and loosening the soil, and 

 also furnishing cuttings to plant other fields. These runners are 

 full of joints, and what you may call eyes, and the slips to be 

 planted ought to contain two eyes each. 



These slips may be set in the ground endwise, or laid horizon- 

 tally, and covered lightly. The latter mode is considered prefer- 

 able. Spring planting is preferred to fall planting. 



The hop will soon shoot forth, if the ground is in proper order, 

 and is dressed with the corn the first season. 



After the corn is harvested, the hops must be covered with a 

 shovelfull or two of manure, and, thus protected, is left until 

 spring. As soon as the frost is entirely out of the ground, the 

 hill is uncovered, and the poles set. 



